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The Boy with the Helium Head
Jonathan goes to the doctor for a flu shot and accidentally gets shot with a dose of helium. Now all he can do is float around. That's one way to avoid Duke, the school bully. But how long can Jonathan stay up, up, and away?
62 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
About the author
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
210 books1,040 followersPhyllis Reynolds Naylor was born in Anderson, Indiana, US on January 4, 1933.
Her family were strongly religious with conservative, midwestern values and most of her childhood was spent moving a lot due to her father's occupation as a salesman.
Though she grew up during the Depression and her family did not have a lot of money, Naylor stated that she never felt poor because her family owned good books. Her parents enjoyed reading stories to the children--her father would imitate the characters in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer--and her mother read to them every evening, "almost until we were old enough to go out on dates, though we never would have admitted this to anyone."
By the time Phyllis reached fifth grade, writing books was her favorite hobby and she would rush home from school each day to write down whatever plot had been forming in her head - at sixteen her first story was published in a local church magazine.
Phyllis has written over 80 books for children and young people. One of these books, "Shiloh," was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1992, was named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association and was also Young Adult Choice by the International Reading Association.
Naylor gets her ideas from things that happen to her or from things she has read. "Shiloh" was inspired by a little abused dog she and her husband found. The little dog haunted her so much that she had to write a story about him to get it out of her mind.
Her family were strongly religious with conservative, midwestern values and most of her childhood was spent moving a lot due to her father's occupation as a salesman.
Though she grew up during the Depression and her family did not have a lot of money, Naylor stated that she never felt poor because her family owned good books. Her parents enjoyed reading stories to the children--her father would imitate the characters in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer--and her mother read to them every evening, "almost until we were old enough to go out on dates, though we never would have admitted this to anyone."
By the time Phyllis reached fifth grade, writing books was her favorite hobby and she would rush home from school each day to write down whatever plot had been forming in her head - at sixteen her first story was published in a local church magazine.
Phyllis has written over 80 books for children and young people. One of these books, "Shiloh," was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1992, was named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association and was also Young Adult Choice by the International Reading Association.
Naylor gets her ideas from things that happen to her or from things she has read. "Shiloh" was inspired by a little abused dog she and her husband found. The little dog haunted her so much that she had to write a story about him to get it out of her mind.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 21, 2012
this book is a good book that tells the story of a boy named Jonathan who axadently gets a shot of helium in him and starts to rise it will be a very fun book to read to your kids if they wan adventure. i recomond this book to parents out there that has a child that loves adventure.
June 4, 2019
The boy with helium head Was a fun exciting book. when his docter gives him a shot of helium on accedent his whole life changes to flooting rather then walking! And so he has many adventures while flooting around.
July 30, 2009
A young boy has unusual experiences after leaving the doctors office with a balloon full of medicine and a head full of helium. Neat story, great flying fantasy with a nest twist.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews